Time-indicating device



May 27 e. H. BROWN TIIIE INDICATING DEVICE Filed April 19, 1926 Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEORGES H. BROWN, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

TIME-INDICATING DEVICE.

Application filed April 19, 1926, Serial 1N0. 103,111, and. in France March 11, 1926. I

lily invention relates to a new time-indi eating device which is applicable to watches, clocrs or the like, and is characterized in that it comprises two concentric dials whereoi on graduated and the other is provided with a window, and means whereby a number is made to suddenly appear in the said window, one of the said dials being movable with. reference to the other.

The stationary dial preferably carries the graduation in minutes and. the movable dial provided with the window in which the hour figure gears. The transfer t'roin one hour fi ure to the next is effected in an abrupt anner when the window passes beifore a certain point of the stationary dial.

in particular. the transfer from one hour figure to the next is obtained by means of a releasing; device which is mounted on the said movable dial and controlled by a stationary abutment.

The appended drawings show by way of example an embodiment of the said invention.

Fig. l shows the arrangement of the two dials.

Fig. shows the mechanism and the movable dial. the stationary dial having been reuuwed, this latter being; indicated by the dotted lines.

The apparatus he: in represented consists ot-a watch which compri es a stationary dial 1 for the minutes and a movable dial 2 which is mounted on an axis 3 for indicating the hours, and in the present example upon the outer shaft of the watch. This latter dial is provided with an opening or window 4: in which the figures tor the hours appear in s ccession.

The transfer from one hour figure to the next obtained in the following manner. The stationary disc of the watch 1 carries an abutment The movable dial 72 carries a wheel 6 which is so disposed that at each revolution of this a tooth of the said wheel will maxo contactwith the abutment 5'; the wheel 6 is provided with an escape incnt device which herein consists simply of a springstrip 7 liar-ring: at no end the stud 9 (jewelry spring).

The wheel 6 engages a second gear wheel 9 coactiug; with a holding device which consists of a spring strip 10 provided with a. stud 11 (second jewelry spring). To the wheel 9 screwed a disc 12 carrying the hour figures. I prefer to mount the gear wheels 6 and 9, and the springs 7 and 10, upon a cage 13 which is secured to the movable dial 2.

The operation is as follows:

The movable dial 2 rotates together with its shaft 3 by means of the known mecha- 'in (not shown). At a given moment, the wheel 6 makes contact with the fixed abutnient Since the dial 2 continues to rotate, the wheel 6 will raise the stud 8 of the l I 7 until the said stud drops abruptly upon the next tooth of the wheel 6 whereby the said wheel will be abruptly rotated. At this time the tooth which made contact with the abutment will have moved aside, and the latter cannot enter into contact with the next tooth. Due to this abrupt rotation of the wheel 6 the wheel 9 will be actuated thus lifting the stud 11 of the spring 10; the said stud will drop into the next tooth and will thus hold the wheel 9 after having abruptly rotated it. The next hour figure on the disc 12 will now appear in the window 4.

should be noted that the mechanism for the substitution of the hour figure in the said window is entirely mounted upon the cage by means of suitable screws, so as to form an aggregate which can be secured to the movable disc by a vfew screws. In this manner the whole device can be removed with great 't'acility for inspection or repairs.

By the use of my said device, there will be no uncertainty to the hour figure shown. as would be the case it the disc 12 rotated with a continuous motion behind the window 4.

it should be further noted that the time can be observed at a glance for the number oi" minutes elapsed is shown simply by the position of the movable window.

in the example shown in Fig. 1, the watch indicates 2 hours 7 minutes. A. single movement of the eyes will thus sutiice to observe the hour figure in the window 4; as well as the number of" minutes shown by the marl-1 l-Lt carried by the movable dial 2.

i 'onsly. the invention is not limited to the ,uplo hereinbetore described. For instance the device for ehangingthe hour figure may be or any other nature whereby the hour disc will be given. a sudden and intermittent movement.

Haring so described and ascertained my said invention and the manner in which the same to be performed I declare that what I claim is:

l. A, device for indicating time comprising in combination a first dial fixed and graduated, a second movable dial mounted on the same axis as the first dial, a window in the mo *able dial and means connected to the movable dial provided with numbers, and means for presenting the numbers abruptly and successively in registry with said window.

A device for indicating time comprising in combination a dial fixed and graduated, a second movable dial mounted upon the same axis as the first dial including a win dow, a movable disk carrying graduatioi'is, and means for presenting abruptly and successively the graduations of said movable disk in registry with Said window.

3. A time indicating device, comprising in combination a stationary graduated dial concentric with a movable dial having a window and means whereby a graduated disc may be displaced behind the said window, the said means consisting of a stationary abutment and a movable elements mounted on the movable dial in such manner as to make contact with said abutment at each revolution oi the dial.

4. A time-indicating device, com n'ising in combination a stationary graduated dial concentric with a movable dial having a window: and means whereby a graduated disc may be displaced behind the said window, the said means consisting of a station ary abutment and of a toothed wheel which is mounted on the movable dial in such manner as to make contact with the stationary abutment at each revolution of the dial and which coacts on the one hand with an escapement device for the release of one tooth at a time, and on the other hand with a toothed wheel which controls the disc and is provided with a locking means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGES H. BROlVN. 

